The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-22
the NORTH STREET RESERVOIR.
Hearing Before the Committee or
New Streets.

A hearing was given yesterday afternoon by
the joint standing committee of the City Council
on laying out new streets, TO parties interested In
the proposed DETECTION of North street by the
erection Of a reservoir by the Portland Water
Company.
Mayor Chapman presided and called the meet
ing to order at a little past o'clock. A remon-
STRANGE against the erection of a reservoir at
this place signed by Franklin Turkey and 81 others
was presented, and also two others, one by John
W. Lane by his attorney G. w. Goddard, and
another by Z. B. Hanson dSusan NJ. Brock by
their attorney, c. w. Goddard. The people of
North street protested against the DETECTION of
that thoroughfare because they regarded the OBJ
structlon of the street and the erection of the
reservoir at this place as detracting from the
beauty of the street. which they claim is destined
to be one Of the most attractive In the city.
Hon. George p. Wescott and Hon. A. A. Strout
appeared for the water company. Mr.. Wescott
said that there was no other available site in the
city for a reservoir, such as must be built to sup
ply the demand for water. 1t is necessary, he
said to have a reservoir of at least is, 900, 900
gallons capacity to supply the demand, and that
the company was willing to go ahead and furnish
the people of Munjoy Hill with an abundance of
water, which they do not now have and which
they have been demanding for long time, If the
city would give them chance.
Mr.. Nj. A. Floyd said that he thought it a matter
of great Importance that the beauty of the street,
destined to be one OF the finest in the city, should
not be destroyed. He thought that the water
company was bound to supply the city with
water, according to the contract made with the
city, whether they built the reservoir on North
street or not.
Alderman Galley was called upon to give his
a. A. al.ar
of the city government / did not come to say
word on this matter, bnt as a citizen l will say
that II there is no other way TO supply the city
with water, and if it is absolutely necessary l
should be in favor Of taking part Of North
street for the reservoir, but otherwise / should
not
Mr.. ii. H. Burgess SAID 81 presume there is
but opinion in this matter and that is that the
public street ought not to be taken bv private
company unless it, is absolutely necessary. /
think the committee should look into the matter
and it is necessary that the reservoir should be
built to defect North street. Them ii seems to me,
that settles the question:
Mr. H. H. Shaw next spoke to considerable
length saying: 81 am citizen of North street
and represent nobody here but myself. l am
Jealous Of the interests of the street and think
that ii the company is allowed to build reservoir
upon 1t certain things should be demanded OF the
company. shall insist upon the erection of
reservoir large enough, not only for the present
but for the future. The company should construct
a boulevard around the structure and the sides
should be graded and planted to grass and main
tanned by the company. 1t shonld have neat
and handsome appearance. am here as citi-
zen to demand that the city government shall in
sist that the company shall construct reservoir
large enough to supply the city with water in time
to come and one that shall not be an eye sore"
Mr.. Wescott stated that the company was
anxious to supply the people with water and that,
in the building Of the reservoir, If any damage
was done to the property in the vicinity the
amount of the damages would be paid by the
company. I'VE must ask the city to decide
whether or not we shall be allowed to defect
North street
Mr.. Thompson, resident of North street,
thought that the reservoir would endanger his
property and the lives of his family and objected
to its construction.
After Mr.. Wescott again stated that it was
necessary TO erect a reservoir to defect North
street several citizens residing that street who
had at first demonstrated, said that they would
favor its erection.
Upon motion of Alderman Smith the hearing
was closed at this point and the committee retired